Recent Gun Show Experience

[Aragorn243]

Our shows have free parking and are between $7-$10 to get in. Most have a $1 off coupon on the internet if you look for it and print it out.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Our shows have free parking and are between $7-$10 to get in. Most have a $1 off coupon on the internet if you look for it and print it out.

Same here.

[browningautorifle]

Many years ago, at a show, an elderly man walked in and had a fairly large rifle live round, not knowing what it was and cambered it in someones rifle

I can't imagine what would possess anyone to do this...why on earth?

[catman]

I can't imagine what would possess anyone to do this...why on earth?

I think (old) age and pride, might have something to do with it. He seemed bashful about asking someone for help, so he took it upon himself to "find" a rifle that fit the bullet. That almost cost my Dads life.
Needless to say, now days all guns must have plastic ties thru the action, etc.. to help prevent this type of accident. (at least in our area)
Chuck

[browningautorifle]

Around here too, or a trigger lock...they're mandatory.

[samnev]

I stopped going to Gun Shows even that SAR Show in Phoenix about 7 years ago because of all the things mentioned in previous posts. The Show charges $12 for parking now iirc and $19 to get in. Prices are outrageous even for rifles like Carcano's, M95's and even MN 91's and M44's from the reports I am getting from friend the went last weekend. Ammo, powder and primer prices were off the wall. I do MUCH better buying on line.

[browningautorifle]

I go specifically for powder or ammo or primer deals, but get few. Up here, shows are an average of $5 to enter and parking is usually included. Yes, prices have stepped up on many things, I just don't buy if they're retarded...

[Brian Dick]

I gave up the show circuit here in SC in 2007 when the SC Arms Collectors turned themselves into a big, money making corporation at the expense of gun collecting in general. I was on the board for 10 years and they used to discuss everything under the sun at the meetings except gun collecting! I've had many good and bad experiences on both sides of the table in 20+ years of regular attendance at shows in FL, GA, AL, NC, SC, TN, MD, PA, AZ and NV. Some vendors cop an attitude because the patrons treat them like dirt too so I'll stay in the middle of the road on this thread. There are jerks everywhere, not just behind the tables at shows. As an example, a friend was helping me last October at Knob Creek. He's well to do and already has a 1914 Lewis gun but wound up buying mine half way through the show after watching countless idiots stick their fingers in the barrel, pick it up and heft it, take pictures without asking, etc. I could go on and on but we thought about buying a jar of Vaseline and leaving it next to the gun with the lid off just to see what they'd think of next. The sad part is that it's a $!8,000 gun and the way I was brought up is that if you don't have the money to buy it in your pocket, you have absolutely no business touching it but I digress. I had to calm him down when one guy went to pick it up and he almost lunged over the table to scold him! He's such a calm and collected soul I was quite surprised to say the least. Anyhow, I've seen it all I think and I try not to get too excited anymore! The moral of the story is be courteous and respectful of other people and their goods regardless of the mood they're in. Things may not always be as they seem.

[villiers]

Many years ago, I attended one of the largest German air shows, in charge of a motor glider on display in one of the exhibition halls. After a while, I noticed that visitors in our hall kept trying to turn the prop. So I disconnected the magnetos. Then I did the rounds and found that most displayed aircraft had some fuel in their tanks and that the mags were all connected. No one had thought of the possible consequences.

[browningautorifle]

Would that ever have been picturesque...running at full throttle down the flats. The end fireball would have been biblical as well.